A lifetime dedicated to preventing harm to children has seen Hamilton's Anthea Simcock in the New Years Honours 2013 list.

The founder of child-advocate agency Child Matters was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to child welfare.

Simcock has worked with children for more than 30 years as a teacher, social worker, child therapist and advocate. She is recognised as a national authority on, and outspoken advocate for, the prevention of abuse and neglect of children.

Simcock founded Child Matters in 1994 and has published works on how to increase the safety of children, including Hidden In Front of Us, a book recounting the stories of 24 adults who suffered abuse as children.

"The work I do is really ensuring the public has awareness of the issues around child abuse," she said.

"It is about giving people the information and tools they need to know what to do to prevent child abuse and where to get help to stop them or someone else from perpetrating it." Simcock said her work was emotionally draining but "100 per cent worth it".

"It has been a long hard battle to get to the point we are at now," she said.

"[But] I love that it [child welfare] is part of national conversation so much more than it was 18 years ago and I love seeing the change and hearing from the people we have worked with and for who tell us what a difference has been made to their life."

WAIKATO HONOURS RECIPIENTS

Professor Linda Tuhiwai Te Rina Smith

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Maori) at Waikato University became a Companion of the NZ Order of Merit for services to Maori and education.

Associate Professor Ian David Campbell Companion of the NZ Order of Merit for services to breast cancer treatment and research.

Alison Marshall Companion of the NZ Order of Merit for services to the community, notably for her long-standing involvement with the co-ordination of volunteer work.

Ian Corney Companion of the NZ Order of Merit for services to agriculture. Mr Corney has been heavily involved with the national animal identification and tracing scheme since 2004.

Professor David Ian Pool Companion of the NZ Order of Merit for services to demography. Professor Pool is highly regarded for his 45-year involvement in the social sciences.

Senior Constable Bruce Milne Companion of the Queen's Service Order for services to the New Zealand police and the community.

Diane Sharpe JP Companion of the Queen's Service Order for services to the community. Mrs Sharpe is a very active community member in the Waipa district, notably in local government and conservation projects in the area.

Herakwal Paul Singh Bains JP Companion of the Queen's Service Order for services to the Indian community.

Jonathan Tanner Companion of the Queen's Service Order for services to hockey. Mr Tanner has been involved in hockey in New Zealand since 1978 and established the New Zealand Hockey Foundation in 2008.

* An earlier verison of this story incorrectly referred to Anthea Simcock as a dame.